The body of an Emerald Isle man reported missing Jan. 12 may have been recovered Sunday afternoon in Georgetown, S.C.

A white man, believed by authorities to be Keith Sullivan, 45, was found in waters near the foot of St. James Street by the owner of Tow Boat U.S., Ronnie Campbell.

Campbell said Sullivan lived in his sailboat “Saga” and was his friend of several years. According to a press release from Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, Sullivan was anchored in the Sampit River area near the town clock on Front Street in Georgetown until his still-unexplained disappearance. He was described by Campbell as an experienced waterman who traveled up and down the East coast and often stayed in Georgetown.

“Local law enforcement searched for weeks, but they couldn’t find him,” Campbell said, via a phone interview. “I’m on the water all the time, so I kept looking. Every day I would ride around hoping to find him.”

Georgetown Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Carrie Cuthbertson said a plane, helicopter, marine patrol units and a side scan sonar were used in the search for Sullivan.

Campbell said it appeared Sullivan had made it to nearby Goat Island where he stripped off all his clothes except his underwear and attempted to swim back to his sailboat.

Water temperature readings for the area in mid-January were reported by local media outlets at a brisk 40 degrees. At that temperature, the average human can only function for 10 to 20 minutes before blood moves away from the extremities to the body’s core and hypothermia becomes a concern.

Campbell is convinced the body found is Sullivan, however, an autopsy and dental record comparison will be performed by Georgetown County Coroner’s Office to officially confirm the man’s identity.

“I was glad when I found him,” Campbell said. “It is a terrible situation, but at least the family can have some peace now.”

Sullivan’s sailboat, “Saga”, has since been returned to Emerald Isle by family members.